7 May 2002

GILL TO ADVISE BOTH CENTRE AND STATE

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Punjab's retired supercop K P S Gill returned to Ahmedabad on Tuesday after consultations with the Union Government, saying he will be able to give his final assessment of correctives needed in Gujarat only after a month-long study of situation by staying put in the state.

After his last call on Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley lasting nearly an hour, Gill made it quite clear in an interview that he has been appointed only to advise the Gujarat Government and not to direct or take control of the police force in the state.

Though he has been officially designated as the security advisor to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Gill said: "I will be interacting with both the Union and State Governments and will be advising them about my reading of the situation."

He went on to point out that he "will be briefing the Union Government personally on a regular basis", implying the Centre wants to have a direct say in the state in the matter of law and order through him.

His return to Delhi so soon on Sunday just after taking over as the chief minister's advisor had led to a speculation that the supercop used to a free hand felt uneasy at the terms spelled out about his functioning. He hinted about his uneasiness when asked about the purpose of his meeting with Jaitley, saying "I have spoken my mind about what I feel."

Though he declined to comment on any assurances given by the Centre to him for his effective functioning, he said, "I have been in Delhi for a couple of days, and will be going back to Gujarat today (Tuesday). I will be there for more than a month now."

His stand that he has only an advisory role, however, puts a question mark on any improvement in the violence that continues in Gujarat even after his takeover, more so since he is not in the direct charge of the police force accused of communal bias in handling the carnage.

Asked if denial of complete charge of the Police force will hinder his functioning, Gill wriggled out, saying "let us wait and see but right now my role is only advisory."

Observers say but for Gill getting a free hand in Punjab, he would not have succeeded in rooting out terrorism and so has been the case when he was sent out to Assam to deal with the violence there. He may find himself stifled in the absence of any administrative powers in Gujarat to quickly deal with developments as all his decisions have to percolate only through Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The Home Ministry sources, however, point out that Gill will not be handicapped in implementation of any decision as he is there at the instance of the Centre and as such Gujarat Government will be directed by the Centre under Article 355 if it fails to carry out Gill's orders. END